Flight cuts are now in effect at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports. At least two major airlines have said international flights will not be reduced, but that doesn’t mean those travelers are off scot free.

Many travelers have to make domestic connections before or after long-haul flights, and aviation experts have told USA TODAY connecting passengers may face fewer options and longer layovers amid Federal Aviation Adminstration-directed cuts.

  • United Airlines said its international flights and hub-to-hub operations will not be trimmed.
  • Delta Air Linesalso plans to keep all of its international flights on track.

USA TODAY has reached out to American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, who have not explicitly said if or how international flights will be impacted.

All major airlines, among others, are complying with the FAA emergency order aimed at offsetting air traffic controller shortages during the government shutdown. Using a phased-in approach, they'll eventually reduce flights by up to 10% at airports in cities like Dallas, Miami and New York.

Airlines have been alerting customers whose flights are canceled and offering flexible rebooking and refund options to other travelers headed to those 40 airports.

To further reduce headaches, travelers should:

  • Check flight status and TSA wait times before heading to the airport
  • Arrive extra early to allow for potentially delayed security screening
  • Make sure they have plenty of time to make connections, considering the next available flights may not be for a while, nor have extra seats

Shye Gilad, a professor of Practice in Management at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and former airline captain, also recommends booking flights earlier in the day to avoid problems that may pile up later on, booking direct flights if possible, avoiding checking in luggage if possible, and packing snacks and patience.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How flight cuts could impact international travelers

Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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